Alleged misuse of Tiong Bahru Football Club’s funds

SINGAPORE: Sport Singapore (SportSG) has filed a police report
after it received a letter alleging that a senior officer of Tiong
Bahru Football Club (TBFC) had instigated another club to "delay
and/or obstruct" the completion of audits until after the Football
Association of Singapore (FAS) Elections, it said on Thursday (Apr
20).

The governing body of local sports said in a press release
that it decided to file a police report on Apr 19 at about 7.50pm
over the suspected misuse of TBFC’s funds and a purported attempt
by a senior officer of the club to delay and/or obstruct the
completion of audits into the S.League sit-out clubs.

SportSG said on Apr 16 that it had asked FAS in July 2016 to
look into the proposed merger of Woodlands Wellington FC (WWFC)
with Hougang following the end of the 2014 S.League season, which
ultimately fell through.

SportSG said it had received complaints from the public about
the proposed merger between Hougang and WWFC, and how WWFC's assets
such as jackpot machines were being apportioned.

WWFC fans, who lodged the complaints, also questioned the
legality of the merger.

The merger was eventually called off in 2016 after FAS said
that it was "not feasible for implementation".

In the same statement, Sport SG also expressed concerns over
TBFC chairman Bill Ng's S$500,000 donation to the FAS in
2014.

"Following the media reports that Tiong Bahru Football Club
had donated S$500,000 to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF)
through the FAS, SportSG looked into the matter, and received
further information on Apr 18," SportSG said.

In response, a spokesman for Bill Ng released a statement to
say that he will be fully cooperating with local authorities over
the matter.

Mr Ng, who is vying for the FAS presidency and leads the Team
Game Changers slate in the leadership election on Apr 29, told
reporters that the national footballing body had asked him for a
donation rather than a sponsorship for the now-defunct football
club LionsXII.

The general secretary of the Football Association of Singapore
(FAS) Winston Lee produced evidence to rebut Mr Ng's claims and
prove that Mr Ng was fully aware that his S$500,000 donation was
meant for AFF.

SportSG added that it will also request to meet the FAS’
Ad-hoc Electoral Committee to clarify the way ahead for the
upcoming elections.

In a statement on Thursday, the police confirmed that a report
has been lodged by SportSG in relation to a football club.

"The police will conduct a thorough investigation and will
take appropriate action against any persons who have committed
offences in Singapore. As investigations are ongoing, it is
inappropriate to comment further at this point,” police
said.

SINGAPORE: Plain clothes investigators were seen at the
headquarters of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and the
premises of three local football clubs on Thursday (April
20).

The raids were conducted shortly after SportSG announced that
it had filed a police report against Tiong Bahru FC for the misuse
of club funds and an alleged attempt by a senior club official to
obstruct the completion of audits of S.League sit-out
clubs.

The police have confirmed that the report was lodged and that
it will take appropriate action against "any persons who have
committed offences in Singapore".

Officers were seen at the FAS headquarters at Jalan Besar
Stadium on Thursday afternoon, carrying cardboard boxes, asking to
speak to personnel in charge.

Local media gathered were not allowed to enter the FAS office.
As of 8.45pm, officers were still seen inside the building.

A team of investigators also visited Tiong Bahru FC’s
clubhouse at People’s Park Centre at Upper Cross Street.

A group of plain clothes officers were seen carrying empty
cardboard boxes into the premises.

At Hougang United FC's office located at Hougang stadium,
officers seen loading up filled cardboard boxes into police
vans.

Channel NewsAsia understands that the offices of Woodlands
Wellington FC were also raided by investigators.

Bill Ng, who is vying for the FAS presidency and leads the
Team Game Changers slate in the leadership election on Apr 29, is
the chairman for both Hougang United FC and Tiong Bahru
FC.

In its statement on Thursday, Sport SG expressed concerns over
Bill Ng's S$500,000 donation to the FAS in 2014.

Mr Ng told reporters that the national footballing body had
asked him for a donation rather than a sponsorship for the
now-defunct football club LionsXII but the general secretary of the
FAS Winston Lee produced evidence he claimed rebutted Mr Ng's
claims and showed that Mr Ng was fully aware that his S$500,000
donation was meant for the ASEAN Football Federation.